Previously I had authored an article on Abstract Sports prior to the much-hyped Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul boxing match. As they say, “talk is cheap.” After listening to Tyson’s promise to “bring the devil himself into the ring” I thought perhaps we may see a glimpse of the old “Iron Mike.”
Boy was I wrong. While the title of my previous article asked if this bout would be fake or real, it turns out that in a sense it was a real fight. The reality was that who were we kidding. Tyson at 58 looked much older once he stepped through the ropes. While I did not see the fight I did see some highlights.
Mike Tyson was slow. Terribly slow. I also believe Jake Paul toyed with the former champion. He peppered him with some jabs but refused to throw any real power punches. Obviously, Paul wanted the fans to get their money’s worth, so he extended this fight purposely.
When writing the first article I thought perhaps Mike Tyson might just have enough gas left in his tank to throw one of those power punches he made famous when he was knocking out fighters where some went to sleep. But watching this fiasco only showed that he is old, his knees are bad, and his speed that he used to have are long gone.
This fight should never have happened. It did nothing for Jake Paul except give the impression that he simply wanted to share the ring with a legend. He knew he would not lose. Tyson’s words fooled everyone including his own daughter by Tyson saying she would see a side of Tyson she hasn’t seen. Now she can go back to her words she said to her father prior to the fight, “dad, you’re old.”
After the fight Jake Paul called out Canelo Alvarez. I have to admit Paul does have some boxing skills and he has good size and is in good shape for being a fighter. But come on man. Alvarez is a beast and a machine. Paul says if he wants a good payday come calling. Alvarez is not in need of money. He is also one of the great fighters of all time with 66 fights and just two losses, both to amazing fighters in Floyd Mayweather Jr. who has never lost, and Dimitry Bivol a fighter who is a champion and has just one loss.
Where does Jake Paul go from here? He’s not going to get Alvarez in the ring. That’s all talk. My guess is he goes seeking another over the hill former MMA fighter or boxer to set himself up for another win. His end goal? Who knows but he will never be a boxing champion. Count on that. Maybe he can fight Evander Holyfield next?
As for Tyson, he refused to say he wouldn’t fight again. But any boxing commission that grants him a license to fight in their state would not only be doing Mike Tyson an injustice by allowing him to further embarrass himself, but they would also be allowing the sport of boxing to be ridiculed more than it already has been.
Boxing used to be a great sport to watch with many famous fighters, legitimate matches and much more respected than it is now. Credit Jake Paul for creating himself a personal gold mine and bringing attention to his fights, but he’s damaged the sport in a major way by being on the forefront and looked at as a joke while real fighters with real aspirations get no attention in the media whatsoever.
What boxing needs is the disappearance of Jake Paul and a phenomenal fighter to come along that will grasp the attention of fans everywhere and be a force in the sport. In other words, another young Mike Tyson or a Muhammad Ali needs to come along.
